Sensing Mountains

Innsbruck Summer School of Alpine Research 2024

Close Range Sensing Techniques in Alpine Terrain

Obergurgl (Austria), 22.9.2024 - 28.9.2024

University of Innsbruck, Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Geography
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)

About

Objectives: The main goal of this summer school 2024 is to provide participants with innovative practical and methodological skills to characterize mountainous terrain using close- and near range remote sensing techniques. The summer school will be the fifth edition after four successful implementations in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Teaching Methods: Theoretical lectures will be complemented by fieldwork assignments and hands-on data processing sessions using different novel software. The assignments will be performed in groups of about 5 participants and focusing on mountain research and related sensor and data processing techniques.

A variety of sensor systems will be available for data acquisition in the high mountain surroundings of the summer school venue, including different terrestrial laser scanners, drones, low cost sensing systems and spectral cameras.

A poster session on the participants' current research interests and work will stimulate open exchange and discussion between students and lecturers in a relaxed atmosphere.

Thematic focus will be on mountain research including geomorphology, vegetation characterization and natural hazard research.

Technical focus will be on sensor and data aspects, such as sensor modelling, calibration, data acquisition, 2D and 3D data fusion, geometric methods for information extraction from point clouds and (multispectral) images and data quality assessment.

Theoretical focus will address critical steps within a processing chain, such as impact of registration, choice of stand points during data acquisition and derivation of deformation vectors or issues related to multispectral image analysis. Practical exercises using predominantly open source software, deepen the conveyed knowledge and help all participants establish a workflow for their research.

Venue: The summer school will take place in and around Obergurgl, at almost 2000 m the highest village in Austria. The main venue is the Obergurgl University Center. Here lectures will take place and accommodation is provided to all participants. Directions will be available via the website. Please note that fieldwork will take place in a mountainous environment, which requires surefootedness.

Call for applications

Intended Audience: This summer school is designed for any well-motivated student; notably PhD students, but also advanced graduate students, post-docs and young researchers from any field, provided they have interest in these types of techniques.

How to join? Please register by e-mail (sensingmountains2024@uibk.ac.at) until 20th February, 2024. Each applicant is requested to send

a short motivation letter (max. 500 words)
a one page CV
an abstract of the participants’ current work (max. 2 pages, *.docx or *.odf, see template here).

This information will be used by the organizational committee to decide which candidates will be accepted.

When & Where? 22.9.2024 - 28.9.2024, Obergurgl University Center (Obergurgl, Austria)

Accomodation and meals: 700 €

Important dates: